Roller-skate.



No. 882,782.' PATENTBD MAR. 24, 190s, T. J, HRUBY.

RoLLBRvsKATE.

APPLIOATIOI FILED DEQ. 9. 1907.

. nnmiri UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. HRUBY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RO LLE R-SKATE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, THOMAS J. HRUBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Roller-Skates, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates, more particularly, to improvement in the bearingsfor the rollers of roller-skates, and my primary object is to provide aconstruction of ball-bearing skate which shall be of simple constructionand inexpensive to manufacture.

Referring to the accompanying drawing-- Figure 1 shows, by a view inbroken side elevation, the rear of a roller-skate embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a section taken at line 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed inthe direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. lshowing another embodiment of my invention; and Fig. 4 is a sectiontaken at the line 4 on Fig. 3, and viewed in the direction of the arrow.One end of a foot-plate of a skate is represented at 5 and has dependingfrom it a support. It is preferred that this support be formed of twobrackets 6, 6, with relatively large openings 7 through them near theirlower ends for receiving cones 8, 8, each of which opens outwardly, asrepresented in Fig. 2, and which are preferably stamped out ofsheet-metal to afford the flanges 9, which, when the cones are posi*tioned in the openings 7, abut against the outer faces of the brackets6. These cones are provided with central alining openings 10, 10 forreceiving an axle 11 which extends at its opposite ends beyond thebrackets 6, a tubular member 12 surrounding the axle and bearing againstthe inner faces of the cones 8 serving to reinforce the brackets 6, toresist strains to which roller-skates are subjected.

The axle 11 which is oppositely threaded at its end-portions, asrepresented, has cones 13, 13 screwed upon it from its opposite endsinto engagement with two series of balls 14, 14 of the hard metalusually employed, which latter are thus confined between the two pairsof cones each formed of a cone 8 and a cone 13. Against the outer facesof each cone are screwed on the axle dust-pans 15 having annular anges16 serving to practically close the space between each pair of cones,and thus prevent freedom of access to the bearings of dust and dirt. Therollers proper 17, which preferably are dished as presented, screw on tothe axle 11 from its oppo- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. December 9, 1907.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Serial No. 405,679.

site ends against the dust-pans 15, nuts 18 being applied on theopposite ends of the axles beyond the rollers for the usual purpose. Itis thus apparent that in use the axle rotates with the rollers 17, andthat the balls confined between each pair of cones aord the desiredball-bearing. By so constructing the skatethe use of but two pairs ofcones and but two sets of balls are required for each set of rollers,with the result of greatly simplifying and cheapening the structure.

The construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is the same as that shown inFigs. 1 and 2, with the exception that instead of forming the rollers 17and cones 13 of separate parts, the roller and cone for each side aremade integral with a dust-pan 19 applied to the cone at an opening 20.The axle 11 instead of being round throughout its length, has a portionof its circumference cut away at both ends, as illustrated at 21 in Fig.4, and the integral rollers 17 and cones 13 instead of having roundopenings through them to receive the axle, as is the case with theseparts in the construction shown in Fig. 2, have openings 22corresponding in shape with the shape of the ends of the axle 11. Thusthe rollers 17 and cones 13 instead of screwing on to the axle 11, areslipped on to it from its opposite ends to cause the cones to be broughtto the proper position relative to the balls, after whichthe nuts 18 areapplied to the axle in the usual manner.

The rollers 17 and cones 13 are caused to turn with the axle 11 byreason of the engagement of the flattened surfaces of the axle with thecorrespondingly liattened surfaces of the openings 22.

It is manifest that the cones 13 and rollers 17 may be made in one pieceand screw on to the shaft, or that these rollers and cones may be madein separate pieces with openings as described of the integrally formedrollers and cones of Fig. 4.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a ball-bearing roller-skate, the combination of a supportconnected with thev bination of a support connected with the foot-plateand provided with openings extending transversely of the skate, dishnshaped cones provided with circumferential flanges fitting in theopenings in said support to open outwardly with their flanges fittingflatwise against the supports7 an axle extending through said cones,cones carried by the axle beyond said first-named cones between whichand the cones on the axle the balls forming the bearings are confined,and rollers fixed on the axles beyond the cones.

3. In a ball-bearing roller-skate, the cornbination of twodependingbrackets formed integrally with the foot plate and havingopenings in their lower end-portions, dishshaped cones fitting in saidopenings to open outwardly and provided with flanges about theircircumferences fitting flatwise against said brackets, an axle extendingthrough said cones, cones carried by the axle beyond said first-narnedcones between which and the cones on the axle the balls forming thebearings are confined, and rollers .xed on the axle beyond the cones.

4. In a ball-bearing roller-skate, the cornbination of a supportconnected with the foot-plate, cones on said support opening outwardly,an axle extending through said cones7 and rollers fixed on the shaft andprovided with cones formed integrally with the rollers between whichsaid last-named cones and the cones on the support the balls forniingthe bearings are confined.

THOMAS J. HRUBY.

In presence of- L. HErsLAR, R. SCHAEFER.

